The new owners of an Oxford shopping centre are seeking residents' views on its future development.

Templars Square in Cowley was sold to real estate investment manager and developer Redevco for £38.8million in March 2022.

Redevco plans to transform the 1960s shopping centre into a mixed urban scheme over the next decade.

The project has pre-existing planning consent that includes 226 apartments.

The company is now launching a listening exercise, gaining feedback from residents and businesses across south and east Oxford, it said.

Beginning on November 19, they are seeking the views of local people and stakeholders on the existing shopping centre and ideas on how they would like it to change and become fit for the future.

Oxford Mail:

Over 9,000 local people have been invited to take part.

There will also be drop-in sessions in the shopping centre in the coming weeks where the Redevco team will be on hand to meet residents and answer any questions.

Redevco are also inviting people to input into their memory wall on the consultation website to better understand the community’s experiences of living and working in the Cowley area and memories from Templars Square’s history.

Simon Russian, development director at Redevco, said: “As new owners we are keen to engage with and be active with local people and visitors and understand their views on the existing centre.

"We want to hear residents’ and stakeholders’ ideas, as well as issues and concerns they may have for its future redevelopment.

"The centre is now 60 years old and with the major changes in shopping habits we think this is the right time to consider how we transform Templars Square to give it a long-term sustainable future.”

The consultation runs from November 19 until December 12 at www.futuretemplarssquare.co.uk

The public drop-in events in the shopping centre’s new consultation hub, in the former TUI store, are: Saturday November 19, 11am-3pm; Friday November 25, 3pm-6pm; Saturday November 26, 11am-3pm.

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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